Softening epoxy

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Acetone does attack epoxy to some extent, we had tanks of acetone to rinse off Skydrol hydraulic fluid used in civil airliners because it is non flammable. The rinsing had to be fast as the eoxy paint finishes would suffer if exposed to the acetone for more than a few seconds. We had to test various hydraulic sub assemblies including shimmy dampers and they were always contaminated externally with the Skydrol (phosphate ester) which would not be safe to handle without being rinsed off before final inspection and packaging. You wouldn’t want to get any in your eyes, it hurts.

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

I had a tube of epoxy that went hard, took it back to the shop, he exchanged it quite happily but told me to microwave the dodgy tube – it worked a treat.

Mick

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Hmm – in my case the tubes are metal so microwave wouldn’t work!  Anyway this is a brass block with epoxy (Araldite?) that has cured over 30+ years.

It has sat in a jam-jar of acetone since last Wednesday with no sign of softening, so I think I will be making a new block.  I have a brass bar end which has one hiding inside…

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

Bad luck with the acetone, MEK is hard to get now as it is harmful to the ozone layer. It’s amazing what lurks inside a block of metal when you have the machinery dig it out. What about simply running a milling cutter straight through the leds and glue to remove them?

[Author]

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